Navigating uncharted desires: a qualitative inquiry into bicurious identity conflicts among young women in 21st-century post-colonial India

Bicuriosity, often considered a fluid space of sexual identity questioning and same-gender exploration, is frequently framed as a transitional phase, especially in heteronormative cultures. This study focuses specifically on young Indian women, whose experiences are shaped by both heteronormativity and gendered expectations that intensify identity conflict and social scrutiny. Using reflexive thematic analysis, this qualitative study examined the narratives of twelve urban women aged 18–25 who self-identified as bicurious. Four key themes were constructed: Wrestling with Ambiguity and Self-Doubt, Encountering Invalidation and Monosexism, Journey Towards Self-Validation, and Finding Strength in Community. Participants described emotional turmoil arising from limited representation of plurisexual identities, fear of marginalisation, and cultural expectations of heterosexuality. Yet, the process of questioning also fostered resilience, self-acceptance, and the pursuit of affirming spaces, often online. The study emphasises how cultural collectivism, familial dynamics, and gender shape identity navigation and advocating for inclusive, gender-sensitive interventions in post-colonial India.